Defend civil rights

THE BIZARRE and scandalous auction over how long police should be allowed to detain terrorism suspects without charge continues. Ninety days? Fifty eight? Fifty six? Where is the evidence that an increase in the limit from the (already much too long) 28 days is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks or prosecute suspects?

Naomi Byron

"No such evidence exists. Or if it does it has never been produced," according to BBC Radio 5 Live's chief political correspondent John Pienaar.

Even Gordon Brown's own security minister, Admiral Lord West, said on the radio he wasn't convinced it needed increasing – though 45 minutes later after a meeting with Brown, he released a statement saying he was.

Brown's last argument is effectively the same as Blair's final argument for invading Iraq after every other one had been demolished: 'You'll just have to trust me'.

His problem is people don't, as the queues outside Northern Rock in September showed.

This is yet another attack on our rights in the name of fighting terrorism from a government whose entire policies have massively increased terrorism and instability in the world. If Brown wants to protect the population of Britain from terrorism the Socialist Party can make some suggestions.

Withdraw British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan with immediate effect; stop supporting dictatorships abroad; end attacks on democratic rights at home and the pro-big business policies that are destroying our services, jobs and local communities.

Last but not least give the emergency services the equipment, training and resources they have been demanding for years to help them cope with a major terrorist attack or disaster.